The Ocean Watch is a 64-foot sailing ship, seaworthy but far from luxurious, that left Seattle in 2009 on an adventure that would have been impossible just a few years ago: to sail around the Americas.
What made the Ocean Watch's journey not only remarkable, but even possible, is the story that unfolds in One Island, One Ocean, a documentary film -- as well as a beautifully illustrated book -- that will interest armchair adventurers, sailing enthusiasts and environmentalists alike.
The Story Behind Around the Americas
When philanthropist David Rockefeller, Jr., and sailor Mark Schrader were boating off the coast of Italy in 2006, they hit upon the idea of circumnavigating the North and South American continents in order to draw attention to the plight of the world's oceans.
Two better-qualified men would have been hard to find: Rockefeller is vice-chair of the National Park Foundation and a former member of the Pew Oceans Commission, which monitors the health of U.S. marine waters. Schrader, who twice solo-navigated around the world, is an active marine conservationist and advocate for wildlife and wilderness preservation.
Both men were deeply concerned about the fate of the world's oceans, and Around the Americas was designed to be not only a daring adventure, but also an important scientific and educational program that would reach out to educators and students in the many ports-of-call they visited along their journey.
Additional support for Around the Americas and the journey of the Ocean Watch came from Seattle's renowned Pacific Science Center and from Sailors for the Sea, a non-profit dedicated to ocean conservation.
The four-man team was completed when sailor and author Herb McCormick joined the group, along with nature photographer David Thoreson. On May 31, 2009, they set sail from Seattle on a 13-month adventure.
Around the Americas, the Hard Way
Bucking convention, the crew decided to travel around the Americas going the wrong way: Most seamen are advised to sail counter-clockwise to take advantage of prevailing winds, but the Ocean Watch made the journey in a clockwise direction.
Along the route, which took them to 53 ports in 13 countries, the crew conducted a number of scientific experiments and observations, including studies of El Niño ocean currents, coral bleaching, ocean acidification, climactic and oceanographic measurements, and other environmental research. Some of these research efforts had never been conducted in the Arctic Ocean, since much of it was ice-bound for 12 months of the year until very recently.
The crew conducted jellyfish research to determine the population growth of these animals, which are considered detrimental in large numbers, since they wreak havoc on fish populations. They also conducted underwater acoustic experiments to determine the changes in undersea acoustics caused by shipping traffic and other disturbances.
Perhaps most significantly, the crew of the Ocean Watch was able to observe and monitor climate change in the part of the Arctic Ocean known as the Northwest Passage, where changes in sea ice, ocean temperatures and climate are having a profound effect on the wildlife and economic activity of people living in in coastal areas worldwide.
For more information and ways to get involved, take a look at the book or movie One Island, One Ocean, or visit Around the Americas.
